WASHINGTON -- In promoting legislation that would ban convicted stalkers from purchasing firearms, Sen. Amy Klobuchar said Wednesday Congress needs to be "honest and pragmatic" about tighter gun laws and she still has hope for national reform.

At an event sponsored by the Center for American Progress, Klobuchar, along with other advocates for tighter gun control, was introduced by Gabby Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly. Giffords, a former member of Congress, was shot in the head during a constituent meet and greet in her Arizona district in January 2011.

She and Kelly are now running Americans for Responsible Solutions, which advocates for tighter gun laws in states and at the federal level.

Klobuchar said she respected America's tradition of gun ownership and that she approaches stricter gun proposals with her Uncle Dick, who loves to hunt, in mind.

"I look at every bill here and say does this hurt my Uncle Dick?" she said.

She called the April 2013 failed Senate vote on expanded background checks one of the saddest days she's had in the U.S. Senate. She said she feels strongly about strengthening gun legislation for stalkers because of her days as a prosecutor, where a lot of heart-wrenching stories of abuse went untold.

"Every single day we have victims of domestic violence and stalking who then become victims of shootings," she said. "I've gotta continue my work in building Republican support on this bill."

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